Skip to content

General Information

The project

The project aims to build homes for people who lost their houses after the earthquakes on February 6th, 2023. To ensure our design is research-based, we participated in numerous meetings, conferences, and presentations with experts worldwide, during the last year. 

In addition, we conducted four field trips where we connected with local municipalities, communities, voluntary projects, and universities, and carried out multiple interviews. During these visits, we observed urban-rural displacement, long-term rebuilding efforts in villages, a lack of awareness, and concerns about current building practices. This is why our project focuses on long-term affordable housing solutions, using modular materials.

Project Timeline

The workshop week

The first weeks, we focused mainly on gaining and sharing knowledge about architectural recovery and to design possible solutions under the guidance of experts and specialists from various disciplines. We organised a workshop week from 20 – 24 March. 

The outcome of this workshop week were 60 students designing 12 concept designs, under the guidance of many lecturers, experts and firms.

Learn more
Monday, February 6, 2023

Earthquakes Türkiye and Syria

On Monday 6 February 2023, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit south-east Türkiye, close to the town of Gaziantep, near the Syrian border.
Monday, February 6, 2023
February, 2023

Beginning of START

Seven students came together to see what they could do to help the earthquake-affected victims. After the first week, the organization group grew to 30 students who focused on organizing the workshop week.
February, 2023
March 20, 2023

Workshop Week | Syrian Turkish Architectural Recovery workshop week

During this week we designed 12 concept designs focusing on different disciplines and needs of the people affected by the earthquake.
March 20, 2023

Our design

After the workshops, we worked on creating one design. It was essential for us to connect and align with many different stakeholder in order to fully understand the challenges the area was facing. 

The design team developed a modular, long-term housing solutions by implementing local materials, flexibility and culture into the design, while keeping the dialogue going. In the below timeline, a glimpse of the past years is given where the design took form, if you would like to know more about the design itself, feel free to get in touch with us!

Learn more
May, 2023

Next steps...

During the first two months after the workshop week, a couple of members of the team wanted to continue to take our concept designs into practice. During the mentorship program of Arcelik, we learned how to develop a business plan and to start up our initiative in the real world.
May, 2023
June, 2023

First Design Sessions and Keep learning & Nomination student initiative of the year

In June 2023, we analysed all the designs that were made and continued designing for the people in need. We decided to focus on the longer term, and decided to plan a fieldtrip to the region. Next to that we kept on learning and participating in events which were held in different parts of the Netherlands, focusing on the earthquake zone. This year we were also selected and nominated the best student initiative of the year of our faculty.
June, 2023
July, 2023

Fieldtrip #1

During our first field trip, we visited various cities affected by the earthquake. We explored each location, spoke with families who lost their homes, and connected with local municipalities to determine how we could support the area. We also visited reference projects focused on short-term housing solutions and discussed how they initiated their efforts.
July, 2023
August, 2023

Defining problem statement & design concepts

After our return from the first field trip, we took some time to really define the problem statement and design concepts.
August, 2023
September, 2023

Back at the university

The first month after the summer started very busy. Next to giving multiple presentations at the university about our project, we were also selected as one of the 5 out of 147, to the Borusan Recovery Program. During this month, our team also grew with many more team members hoping to make a positive impact!
September, 2023
October, 2023

Designing and Advisory Boards

In October, an advise group was formed by the municipality of Amsterdam to talk about all the projects happening from the Netherlands for Hatay. Multiple meetings, presentations, and networking events took place following the first meetings. By talking to many different stakeholders, we could also continue focusing and forming our design.
October, 2023
November, 2023

Fieldtrip #2 & Design Reveal & BK LAUNCH award & Meetings Moroccan Team

During our second visit, our main focus lied on choosing a specific village, making all the connections with local stakeholders and viewing the different plots where our first prototype could be build.

November, 2023
December, 2023

Media | Jeroen Pauw documantary

A second aim of the fieldtrip in november was to participate in the documentary of NPO1, where Jeroen Pauw visited the affected area and to portray the horrible disaster that took place in the South of Turkiye. The documentary was broadcasted on the 11th of December, 2023.
December, 2023
January, 2024

Design Sessions

The month of January stood in light of continuing to work on the design, while many of us had our final presentations, a smaller team came together to work on the design concepts and look at how we could work out the Core Unit.
January, 2024
February, 2024

Remembering one year Earthquake | TV scenes

In the beginning of February, many memorial events were organized by different parties in the Netherlands. Many different media from the Netherlands contacted us to have interviews with us to see how the area was doing and what type of different projects were taking place in the area.
February, 2024
March, 2024

Definitive Design, BAU Business fiar & Climate Contest TU Delft, Network events Meeting our financial goal!

Taking our design to a definitive design was our main focus this month! Next to that we joined many different networking events and participated in the Climate Contest of the TU Delft. Another big highlight this month was that we achieved our financial goals for our first prototype!
March, 2024
April, 2024

Conferance in Izmir

In the beginning of April, the team joined a symposium in Izmir, bringing together different academics and universities to talk about earthquake resilience in education. Here, together with ACIL, we presented our team. Later on, we gave the presentation during the AIA Conference, organized by Ali Hocek.
April, 2024
May, 2024

Our partners!

In may, multiple meetings were held with our partners and sponsors to see how we could proceed with our design process. We would like to thank these partners who guided us through the design phase: Derix, Rothoblaas, and Vitra. We also had a last meeting with the advisory groups about the Turkiye Reconstruction, organized by the Dutch Embassy in Ankara, where we presented our design.
May, 2024
June, 2024

Trip to London: meeting Bureau Happold, Foster and Partners

Our teacher Job arranged an informal business tour for extreme alumni in London. During this trip we had introductions at Bureau Happold, Foster and Partners and a presentation by Mehmet Kalyoncu about the reconstruction of Hatay and Ukraine after disaster, and how these firms are involved with the recovery process.
June, 2024
July, 2024

Summer design sessions with the whole team

After a very busy period for many of our team members, we organized a couple of design sessions to get back on track to achieve our goals.
July, 2024
August, 2024

Arranging legal papers, transportation, and finances.

Our team consists of many different people with various backgrounds, while most of us are architects and our main aim is to provide people homes, we also need to arrange other aspects of the building process. We keep learning by talking to professionals who are experienced. This month, in preparation for our third field trip, we dove deeper into the legal permits and transportation of our prototype.
August, 2024
September, 2024

Fieldtrip #3 | Hatay

During this very productive week we spend time with the family for who we will build our first prototype. We talked to them about their previous house, their daily routines in the village and explained our goals and designs. Next to that we had meetings with the municipality, local construction engineers and logistic companies. We visited Antakya, and met with different associations working for the recovery of Hatay and its people.
September, 2024
October, 2024

Finalising Partners and introducing them: mentional all partners

To make our very first prototype possible we are working together with many different partners
October, 2024
November, 2024

Technical Design

In this phase of the design, the whole team focused on completing the final project drawings. Meetings were held with different parties to see how the design could be as sustainable as possible and how to make the core unit self-sufficient. The last preparations and partners were contacted to ensure the building process could go as planned.
November, 2024
December, 2024

Steps towards the building process of the core unit.

This month the team is focussing on working and completing all the work to make sure that the design is completed, the planning is made, the materials are ordered and that we are on track to be able to build the prototype in February.
December, 2024

Building a prototype

Building a prototype, based on our design, allowed us to test, learn, and refine our design before scaling up. It enabled us to assess Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) as a construction material in Türkiye, explore the self-sufficiency of the core unit, and better understand logistics, transport, and production challenges. Our first prototype is located in Karsu Köy, where strong local connections, an urgent need for shelter, and a manageable scale make it an ideal testing ground. Designed and built in the Netherlands with the support of committed partners and donors, the core unit was transported to Hatay in April 2025. While the core unit remains standardized, adaptable room units were assembled on site, in May 2025, allowing each home to respond flexibly to the needs of different families and contexts.

Learn more
January, 2025

Finalising the planning for Core Unit.

This month the team is focussing on working and completing all the work to make sure that the design is completed, the planning is made, the materials are ordered and that we are on track to be able to build the prototype in February.
January, 2025
Feburary, 2025

Cross Laminated Timber

In a factory the CLT panels are made. Through the flexible material, the seismic resistance of the core unit is ensured, being the "safe" room of the house. Thanks to the visit at our main sponsors factory, the DERIX Group, we could see how our CLT plates were made within a couple of hours.
Feburary, 2025
March, 2025

Building the Core Unit

This unit was designed and built in the Netherlands with the support of generous companies and donors, who contributed both financially and through material donations. It was transported to Hatay in April 2025. The unit was developed in the Netherlands to leverage Dutch construction techniques, innovation, and expertise, while closely monitoring quality throughout the process. Looking ahead, we are exploring opportunities to produce and adapt similar units in Turkey, combining local resources with international knowledge for future recovery efforts.
March, 2025
April, 2025

Transportation and media Day

April, 2025
May, 2025

Building the Room Units and Fieldtrip #4

Once on site, the core unit is placed on the foundation, after which the wooden timber structure is added and connected to the core. The elements are then secured and finished, forming a complete home. The core unit remains standard across all houses, while the room unit is flexible and adaptable to the needs of each family and location
May, 2025
June, 2025

Finishing the Room Units

Together with the local Turkish team of Nilsen BV, we completed the room units. The room units on this site are build of a timber construction.
June, 2025
July, 2025

Strengthening the soil around the house

After the completion of the house, our focus was dedicated to completing the land around the house. Together with local partners, we strengthened the soil around the house. This was done so that the houses and our prototype would be protected for potential heavy rainfall or future earthquakes.
July, 2025
August, 2025

Finishing touches

In September 2025, all the final touch ups were made, and the house was completed.
August, 2025
September, 2025

Move in days!

Our first family could move in to our long term, modular, earthquake resilient home!
September, 2025
October, 2025

Presentations and Brainstorming about future steps

By continuing to present our work, and keep the dialogue going, we started to think about our future steps!
October, 2025
November, 2025

Winning the Mekel Prijs

We are proud to announce that we have been awarded the Mekelprijs 2025. The Mekel Prize recognises the most socially responsible research project or extra-scientific initiative within TU Delft. Whether the founding of an organisation, an impactful event, or any project that demonstrates exceptional commitment to moral and societal values. Here's to continuing the work, with even more passion and purpose!
November, 2025
December, 2025

Next steps?

We are actively exploring ways to grow and expand our project through a two-step approach. First, we continue to develop our knowledge platform while refining and optimizing our design. Second, we are conducting field research to better understand ongoing housing needs and to explore how our construction approach can be scaled and expanded to reach more villages in Hatay. Interested in helping us? Get in touch!
December, 2025
February, 2026

Opening of our prototype!

February, 2026